Thursday, November 30th

One: Zukcerman doesn’t like the term “Fake News”. First summarize his argument about this and than help illustrate it thru two examples he doesn’t use, at least one should be one closely connected to you (i.e. one where you heard someone you know using the term Fake News).

Two: How accurate is the Youth Report by the Knight Foundation for you? That is in their findings what are the biggest overlaps with your experience? biggest difference from your experience?

Tuesday, November 21st

Black Mirror. “Fifteen Million Merits” (Season 1. Episode 2)

Questions:

1. As with the prior Black Mirror episode, this one imagines a future that is on the one hand not so removed form our own, and on the other pretty unimaginable. What aspects of this future do you feel the creators of the show were making most similar to our own in order to critique our culture? What aspects of the episode do you think were the most unrealistic.

2. Think back to the Postman from last week, re: amusing ourselves to death, particularly about how mediums shape epistemology, what would Postman have to say about the message of the Black Mirror episode.

Note: Reading notes are not due until Monday at 11:59PM this week since I was so late posting this.

TUESDAY, November 14TH

Question: Which of the things outlined in these cases ought to be protected or restricted by law? and which should be left up to platforms? That is are there some aspects of speech here that the law ought to restrict, based on content or intent (harassment)? and are there some that should be up to the platforms to restrict? Should these platforms go beyond the law? or if it is legal should they allow it?

THURSDAY, November 16TH

Question: Postman seems to not be a very big fan of TV here. In two paragraphs summarize his argument. Do this in a way if Postman were here to read it he would agree with you. That is your goal is to capture the argument not agree or disagree, just present and distill its essential points. Then in a third paragraph tell me if you agree or disagree with Postman’s analysis, why? why not?